Legend in Japanese art: a description of historical episodes, legendary characters, folk-lore myths, religious symbolism

Description

London: J.Lane, 1908. — 730 p.Old Japan is now so common an expression that one may easily forget how short a period of time, barely two score years, separates us from the era of two-sworded warriors, whose legends and popular beliefs are fast becoming forgotten, hidden or eradicated by the influence of Western civilization.Legends and customs are, however, happily recorded in an enduring manner in many of the articles of attire, or daily use, the exquisite workmanship of which endears them to collectors of Japanese Works of Art. Netsuke, Inro, Tsuba, Prints, etc., embody in their decoration a host of subjects, the elucidation of which forms one of the chief difficulties, and perhaps also one of the greatest attractions of Japanese collecting.The author has for a number of years given his attention to Japanese Objets d'art, illustrating folk-lore or historical episodes, carefully noting all the information he could gather respecting them. This work, undertaken as a labour of love and for private reference, w r as illustrated with sketches, stray leaves from books, and photographs from his own specimens. A special study of Japanese illustrated books helped to enlarge the scope of this note book, opening a fascinating field of research which seemed only to grow wider as the author's knowledge increased.